Our blood is our “life force” that carries vital nutrients, hormones, and oxygen (to name a few) to the tissues of the body. The health of a cell, the tissues, and organs are dependent on the function and strength of the vascular system and the blood that flows through it.
At the center of this transportation system is the heart. The heart pumps the blood around the body as it beats, delivering oxygen, nutrients and hormones that other body systems and organs need to function properly. Functional disruptions or imbalances in any of the body systems, even small, can have significant impacts on the heart and vascular system acutely or over longer periods of time.
Circulatory Systems Protocols
In previous blog posts and past webinars, we demonstrated the intimate functional relationships between the Urinary, Lymphatic, Endocrine, and Nervous systems. Many health conditions that are experienced are health issues that originate from some point in the body that may not be obvious based on symptoms alone. Our circulatory system webinar will tie much of this information together, revealing a greater complexity of protocol building – but simplified!
Let’s review a few common health concerns involving the circulatory system, touching on topics of the heart, heartbeat, blood, and blood vessels.
Formula Favorites for the Circulatory System
Disclaimer
Before we get into formulas and protocols, we’d like to take a moment to encourage you to talk to your doctor before beginning any circulatory system protocol, especially since many circulatory system responses can be the symptoms of some greater issue.
The following protocols have been designed by Doctor Morse and used to support many folks on their healing journey. However, they are only recommendations and should be considered alongside recommendations from a doctor.
PROTOCOLS
General Maintenance
Always remember that a successful detoxification protocol starts with a strong foundation. Be self-aware and be attentive to what you bring into your body. Our foundational formulas are designed to support any herbal protocol: a GI formula, a Kidneys & Bladder formula, a Lymphatic System formula and a formula to support a component of the endocrine system, such as the Endocrine Daily formula. Don’t forget the importance of appropriate food choices and proper food combining!*
Along with our foundational formulas, a circulatory health general maintenance protocol includes Blood Support with its building herbs including burdock which contains calcium and yellow dock, which contains iron. Prickly ash is found in both Blood Support and Blood Circulation, another formula recommended for general maintenance. Prickly ash supports an increased heart rate and blood flow.*
Heart Rhythm Abnormalities
The heart is a muscle with two sides and four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria, and the bottom chambers are called ventricles. The heart relaxes and contracts, pumping the blood as it passes through valves after leaving each chamber to circulate through the body before circulating back to the heart to repeat the process.
The nervous system connects with the heart via the vagus nerve as part of the autonomic nervous system to control cardiac muscle contraction. Healthy heart function requires an important balance of minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium) to signal a normal cardiac contract/relax rhythm. Strong Heart is our primary formula for the heart itself. It contains hawthorn which is believed to be supportive of the entire cardiovascular system due to its positive inotropic activity, meaning that it supports the heart muscles in contracting more strongly, by increasing blood vessel wall strength while supporting optimal coronary blood flow and better oxygen utilization. It is the flavonoids found in hawthorn flowers, leaves, and fruits that are thought to be the constituents responsible for these positive effects.*
Blood Circulation is also included in this protocol is it assists the body’s healthy functioning circulatory system with the help of warming catalyst herbs like ginkgo, rosemary and prickly ash.*
Abnormal heart rhythms can produce unique sensations like fluttering in the chest, fatigue, lightheadedness, shortness of breath and even discomfort in the chest. These are symptoms that should not be ignored, and it is necessary to have them evaluated by a health care professional as soon as possible.
An awareness of how heart rhythm abnormalities may begin, and the physiological relationship to other body systems (like the adrenal glands), provides one with a little more understanding of the body’s imbalances that require support, cleaning, and strengthening.
Herbal protocols to reinforce healthy heart function include support for the nervous and endocrine systems because of their connections in heart and vascular function and the transportation of hormones. Spasm Calm is added to this protocol as it is a calming nervous system formula that can help with any abnormalities associated with a stressful lifestyle. Kidneys & Bladder Restore and Lymphatic Drainage Moderate Mover are included to support lymphatic drainage and kidney function for optimal fluid balance in the blood.*
Red Blood Cell Support, AKA Fortifying the Blood
Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, carry oxygen, gases and nutrients through the body.
Here are a couple of fun facts about red blood cells:
- Red blood cells make up about 45-50% of our blood volume.
- Red blood cells live for about 120 days.
The bone marrow produces red blood cells, and their production is stimulated by a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO). Healthy kidneys produce EPO to stimulate the bone marrow to make red blood cells. The liver (and spleen) destroys damaged or dying red blood cells, and this process releases iron. For this reason, Doctor Morse includes Ultimate Immue in this protocol. Deer antler is one of the primary ingredients and it is traditionally used to support healthy, strong bones.*
We know how important the blood is as a transporter of essential elements our body systems need, and red blood cells have a very important role. This brief example of the life cycle of a red blood cell summarizes other body systems that require attention to support healthy red blood cell levels. An herbal protocol to assist the kidneys, the endocrine system and the immune system in their natural functions can reinforce normal red blood cell production.*
Liver/Skin is included in this protocol as it contains burdock and dandelion root which both contain calcium. Blood Support is also recommended to fortify the blood as it also contains burdock and other nutrient-rich herbs like red clover, yellow dock and plantain.*
Maintaining Vascular Integrity
The integrity and function of the vascular walls of the circulatory system is critical to ensure that blood from the extremities can return to the heart for reoxygenation. If you remember from the Circulatory System anatomy and Physiology Blog, veins return deoxygenated blood to the heart. They must do this without the aid of an internal pump. This means that movement and the contraction of muscles in the arms and legs is the main mechanism for pushing this blood back toward the heart. Genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyle, and poor diet can all contribute to stagnation and failure in the vascular system.*
Besides adding therapeutics like walking, rebounding, leg elevations, and massage into your weekly routine to support venous return, eating an alkaline diet and using herbs can support vascular integrity. This protocol combines Lymphatic Drainage Super Mover with Kidneys & Bladder drain. The action of the lymphatic formula is supported by the natural diuretics in Kidneys & Bladder Drain to encourage flow and detoxification from stagnant areas that can contribute to vascular insufficiency.*
These formulas are paired with Blood Circulation, which you probably recognize by now is a warming catalyst formula for supporting blood flow. With venous insufficiency comes stagnation, and this formula helps to promote movement and flow. Bone & Connective Tissue is added here to support healthy blood; dandelion, deer antler, kelp and alfalfa are all traditionally used for fortifying the blood.*
You can also support venous integrity topically. In fact, this is often a primary therapeutic for treating many topical manifestations of venous stagnation, fragility and insufficiency. Try using Doctor Morse’s Ultimate Salve to promote the tightening and tonifying of veins from the outside in.*
*FDA warning: This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.